BROADALBIN – The two candidates for town supervisor will face each other in an upcoming primary.
Incumbent Republican Supervisor Joseph DiGiacomo and challenger Thomas Christopher both filed as independents under the Patriot Party and Patriot lines, respectively, assuring them spots in the general election.
The two candidates will face off in a Republican primary scheduled for Sept. 10.
The term for the position is four years.
Christopher also tried to run as a Conservative, but was stripped of that designation because the New York State Conservative Party didn’t endorse him.
DiGiacomo, who was elected as the town supervisor in 2009, previously served as the deputy supervisor from 2002 to 2009. He became a town councilman in 2000. DiGiacomo owns Midnight Oil in Broadalbin.
DiGiacomo said his main goal as the supervisor is simple – keep taxes under control. Broadalbin has had the lowest tax rate in the county since 2005, he said.
DiGiacomo said he is concerned with the economic development of the county, as well as repairing the town’s highway garage.
However, DiGiacomo said he was not looking to develop the area around the Great Sacandaga Lake.
“I’m not really looking for residential development [around the lake]” DiGiacomo said.
DiGiacomo said the biggest issue currently in the town is the arguments regarding the highway department. DiGiacomo said arguments between himself and Highway Superintendent Lance Winney have affected the way the department is run.
Many members of the public, including Christopher, have criticized him for the arguments.
“Its very easy to take a stand on something like that when you don’t understand the laws,” DiGiacomo said.
Christopher, 61, served for 36 years in the U.S. Postal Service. Before retiring in 2010, he served as the post master in Gloversville for 16 years.
Christopher said his platform would focus on handling the disagreements and the in-fighting in the town.
“My main platform is leadership. The town needs some leadership,” Christopher said.
Christopher said his experience could pull the town together and handle the issues that have been hounding the local government, including the arguments between the board and Winney.
“That is the biggest issue, but there are a lot of underlying ones,” Christopher said.
The Town Board is not properly informed on some issues and are forced to vote without knowing what is going on, he said.
Christopher said if he is elected, he would work closely with the board and make sure the members are fully informed about the issues in town.
Christopher also said he would strive for further development in the county, such as industrial parks.
